POSEIDON FERRY
SETS SAIL AROUND GRIDLOCK By Paul Scicchitano
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etting to and from Miami Beach, downtown Miami and Coconut Grove can be challenging at times by car, but Poseidon Ferry wants to change all that with a new service that lets commuters quite literally sail around the traffic.
“The city is pleased to welcome Poseidon Ferry as a fun and efficient car-free means of commuting between South Beach and downtown Miami,” González said.
“No matter what time of day you go, you’re going to be in traffic,” acknowledged Poseidon CEO Johnathan Silvia, whose company relaunched its waterborne commuter service in August after suspending operations for much of 2021 as the cruise industry remained grounded amid COVID-19 restrictions and area workers settled into telecommuting routines from their homes.
Ridership had increased to about 1,500 people per month as of late 2021. About half of those riders were looking to enjoy a leisure excursion while the other half were commuting between home and work.
Poseidon plans to expand its service to seven days per week in the near future as the line also plans to add a new daily service from Coconut Grove to its existing South Beach and downtown Miami routes. “The more routes that we can grow into and the more stops that we can add to the mix will make the service more viable for different people” Silvia posited. “I think it’ll be an asset throughout the community, not just specifically to Miami or the beach, but all over.” Miami Beach residents and visitors can take one of the city’s free trolleys to the ferry station near Alton Road and 6 Street in South Beach, according to Miami Beach Transportation and Mobility Director José R. González.
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MB magazine | Spring 2022
Mix of Riders
One-way tickets cost $5 for Florida residents with identification and $4 for seniors 65 and older. Children 12 and under ride free. Other adults pay $10. Bicycles that are brought on board cost $2 with discounts available for the military, first responders and disabled passengers. Capt. Hayes Almand was at the helm of the Little Diamond double-decker vessel during a recent 18- to 20-minute sailing excursion from South Beach to downtown Miami. “Some days I can make it even quicker,” Almand confided with a smile. “Eventually people are going to depend on us to get from point A to point B in a timely manner.”
